I also was ordered to be present.

When Pereira arrived, Retief charged him openly with having plotted my murder, and asked him what he had to say.

Of course, his answer was a flat denial, and an accusation against me of having invented the tale because we had been at enmity over a maiden whom I had since married.
"Then, Mynheer Pereira," said Retief, "as Allan Quatermain here has won the maiden who is now his wife, it would seem that his cause of enmity must have ceased, whereas yours may well have remained.

However, I have no time to try cases of the sort now.

But I warn you that this one will be looked into later on when we get back to Natal, whither I shall take you with me, and that meanwhile an eye is kept on you and what you do.
Also I warn you that I have evidence for all that I say.